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Urban Waters: Philadelphians Show GSI Love

Philadelphians are known for enjoying a day out in their community park helping to tidy up or plant trees. Through the Urban Waters training program, these community members can give back, while taking their skills to the next level. Green Infrastructure Skills Training: Building Capacity and Supporting Watershed Improvements in the Tookany/Tacony Frankford Watershed program provides community members with Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) maintenance skills.

PHS’s Emma Melvin in the Vernon Park rain garden.

Due to her extensive experience, Emma Melvin of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (and TTF Board Member) installing and maintaining over 60 rain gardens, understands the common challenges of GSI. On November 16th, she shared her expertise with community members interested in learning more about GSI and maintenance. Rain gardens are one of the most effective practices, so TTF was happy to host this training around our world famous Vernon Park Rain Garden!

Next, they ventured out into Vernon Park to look at rain garden maintenance issues. Participants learned about redesigning gardens based on reading patterns water flow patterns. They picked up tools and cleared sediment from pipes, while checking on the condition of the garden. Following the lead of PHS professionals, they placed new plants in appropriate places based on rain garden conditions. Native plants like Wild Ginger, Blue Lobelia, Purple Coneflower and Ironweed were added to the rain garden. Thank you to Pinelands Nursery for donating these plants!

Residents shared their particular interests in managing stormwater. Many discovered that GSI features were located nearby and left the workshop to investigate! Participants also took a tour of the rare books and original carvings in the Black Writer’s Museum.

When the workshop was over, the rain garden was healthier, GSI awareness was raised, and people had learned both about Germantown and events in Tacony Creek Park.

Julie Slavet is TTF's Executive Director. She has over 20 years of experience in community affairs, program development, and personnel management. Julie earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Smith College and an M.S. in Public Affairs from the University of Massachusetts. Julie has served as an Advisor to the Jenkintown Community Alliance and a Director of the Montgomery County Democratic Women’s Leadership Initiative. Contact Julie at 215.844.8100 or julie@ttfwatershed.org.